"It's like deja vu, all over again." ~ Yogi Berra

[shereads]

Bush Vows to Keep Pressure on Iran
U.N. Nuclear Watch Must Ask 'Hard Questions,' President Says

By Deb Riechmann
The Associated Press
Monday, August 9, 2004; 12:49 PM


President Bush vowed Monday to keep pressuring Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions, but he tempered his tough words with talk of diplomacy, countering Democrats who say he takes a go-it-alone approach on the world stage.

"Iran must comply with the demands of the free world and that's where we sit right now," Bush said at an "Ask the President" campaign event in the Washington, D.C., suburb of Annandale, Va. "My attitude is that we've got to keep pressure on the government, and help others keep pressure on the government -- so there's going to be universal condemnation of illegal weapons activities."

~~~~

SR adds: Condoleeza Rice was on Meet the Press this weekend, talking about the importance of international pressure to discourage nuclear development in the Middle East. Russert asked her if the U.S. would apply similar pressure to Israel, and she didn't so much as acknowledge what he had said. Just kept right on talking about Iran. No mention of Pakistan, either.

If credibility is butter and the world is toast, we're spreading ours thinner all the time.

 

[Guest]

So, is "pressure" the new euphemism for War? I get it now. P.

 

[shereads]

So, is "pressure" the new euphemism for War? I get it now. P.

And "universal condemnation" is a euphemism for, "unless I can get Congress to spit up another $290 billion and reinsitate the draft, we can't do this alone. Then there's North Korea...I wonder if there's a way to bypass Congress altogether?"

 

[AngeloMichael]

International team to monitor presidential election

Well if they try to pull any shenanigans with the election this time, they have to do it under the nose of the U.N. I guess that's kind of like a mischievous child being babysat by the watchful eyes of a leagally blind grand parent.

 

[shereads]

Instead of applying pressure on Iran and North Korea to end their nuclear programs, why not apply pressure on Pakistan to nuke Iran, and on Israel to nuke North Korea? That would still leave us India's nuclear missiles, to be kept at the ready in case Iraq turns out to be more trouble than it's worth.

Our own arsenal would remain untouched. Unless the Cuban American National Foundation continues to threaten the traditionally Republican exile vote, in which case Dubya might need to take out Fidel by nuking Havana.

 

[shereads]

International team to monitor presidential election

Well if they try to pull any shenanigans with the election this time, they have to do it under the nose of the U.N. I guess that's kind of like a mischievous child being babysat by the watchful eyes of a leagally blind grand parent.

I'm not sure how effectively they can monitor the vote now that we're being switched to new voting machines provided under contract with Repulican campaign contributor, Diebold, Inc. I don't know if this is true anywhere but in Florida, but here we're assured of two things: (1) it's too late to redesign the system to provide a receipt or other paper trail and (2) it won't be a problem.

The new system is guaranteed 90% shenanigans-free.

Personally, I'm saddened by the loss of the "butterfly ballot." I was looking forward to accidentally voting for Pat Buchanan.

 

[shereads]

Nuclear Watch Must Ask 'Hard Questions,' President Says

What might Dubya consider "hard questions," I wonder...

 

[MaxSebastian]

Ask him a question about "My Pet Goat", he might get it right.

 

[R. Richard]

Instead of applying pressure on Iran and North Korea to end their nuclear programs, why not apply pressure on Pakistan to nuke Iran, and on Israel to nuke North Korea? That would still leave us India's nuclear missiles, to be kept at the ready in case Iraq turns out to be more trouble than it's worth.

If you are talking about Pakistan nuking Iran's nuclear facilities, they cannot. Iran's nuclear facilities are not only underground, but under major population centers (illegal under international law). The only thing that will reach that sort of facility is a 'burrowing bomb.' Only the US and Israel have that capability.

It is not at all practical for Israel to nuke North Korea. The flights involved would be impossibly long and over hostile states.

India does not have the delivery systems to be able to nuke Iraq.

I suspect that your post was in jest, but there are very serious and very dangerous issues here.

 

[Edward Teach]

Instead of applying pressure on Iran and North Korea to end their nuclear programs, why not apply pressure on Pakistan to nuke Iran, and on Israel to nuke North Korea? That would still leave us India's nuclear missiles, to be kept at the ready in case Iraq turns out to be more trouble than it's worth.

Our own arsenal would remain untouched. Unless the Cuban American National Foundation continues to threaten the traditionally Republican exile vote, in which case Dubya might need to take out Fidel by nuking Havana.

ssshhhh

 

[shereads]

If you are talking about Pakistan nuking Iran's nuclear facilities, they cannot. Iran's nuclear facilities are not only underground, but under major population centers (illegal under international law). The only thing that will reach that sort of facility is a 'burrowing bomb.' Only the US and Israel have that capability.

It is not at all practical for Israel to nuke North Korea. The flights involved would be impossibly long and over hostile states.

India does not have the delivery systems to be able to nuke Iraq.

I suspect that your post was in jest, but there are very serious and very dangerous issues here.

Leave the details to Rumsfeld. I'm more of a "big picture" person, like the president.

 

[shereads]

On a lighter note, it looks as if Iraq is taking to democracy like a duck to water. Maybe the invasion was a good idea after all.

~ ~ ~

Sadr Urges Followers to Fight U.S. Forces
Gun Battles in Najaf Continues for 5th Day

By Jackie Spinner and Saad Sarhan
Washington Post Foreign Service
Monday, August 9, 2004; 5:08 PM

BAGHDAD, Aug. 9 -- Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada Sadr called Monday for his Mahdi Army to rise up against U.S. forces in the holy city of Najaf, where a fierce gun battle between his militia and U.S.-led forces continued into a fifth bloody day.

"I told the Mahdi Army that IÕm one of them. I will not leave Najaf," Sadr vowed in a thunderous speech at the shrine of Ali, one of the most sacred Shiite sites. "I will resist, and they will resist with me."

It was the first time Sadr has spoken in public since fighting broke out in Najaf on Thursday and spread to three other southern cities, as well as Sadr City, the large Shiite slum in Baghdad.

The fighting also prompted officials to stop the flow of oil from fields in the southern sections of the country to the port in Basra, the Associated Press reported. About 1.8 million barrels per day, or 90 percent of IraqÕs exports, move through Basra.

{Fools! Now they're messing with Cheney.}

The firefights appeared to die down on Saturday night but picked back up on Sunday and continued into Monday. U.S. Marines, backed by Iraqi security forces, fought the militia through much of the day in Najaf, witnesses said.

A U.S. military official told the AP that NajafÕs governor, Adnan Zurufi, gave U.S. forces permission to enter the cityÕs holiest site, the Imam Ali Shrine.

"The governor has given us approval to conduct operations in and around the shrine," the official said on condition of anonymity. "We have elected at this point not to conduct operations there, although we are prepared to do so at a momentÕs notice."

The U.S. Defense Department Monday identified the U.S. soldier killed in the combat in Najaf on Thursday as Pfc. Raymond J. Faulstich Jr., 24, of Leonardtown, Md. Faulstich, who was assigned to the 89th Transportation Company, 6th Transportation Battalion at Fort Eustis, Va., was killed when his convoy was hit by small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades, the official announcement said.

Two Marines had been reported killed in Najaf last week, and U.S. officials identified them as Sgt. Yadir G. Reynoso, 27, of Wapato, Wash., and Cpl. Roberto Abad, 22, of Los Angeles. Both were assigned to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force from Camp Pendleton, Calif.

U.S. officials have estimated that more than 300 militia members have been killed in the five days of fighting, but SadrÕs spokesmen have denied that the number is that high. Scores of civilians have been killed or wounded, military and hospital officials have said.

In fighting elsewhere Monday, one British soldier was killed in Basra, officials in London reported.

IraqÕs Interior Ministry also imposed an indefinite curfew on Sadr City, running from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. The ministry cited "security reasons" for the restriction.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi visited Najaf Sunday in an attempt to restore calm to the city. He vowed not to negotiate with the militia and ordered the fighters to leave.

But Sadr said he would not negotiate as long as U.S. and Iraqi fighters were attacking his militia. He asked the Iraqi security forces to work together to "defend their city and country and to maintain security in Najaf."

"I wish I will be bombed by a U.S. atomic bomb, but not killed by an Iraqi bullet," he said. "It is an honor to me to fight the Americans."

Sadr warned that the resistance would grow stronger after AllawiÕs visit.

"Allawi asks the resistance to surrender," he said. "ItÕs very strange. I didnÕt ask anyone to join the Mahdi Army or the Sadr trend. They came to defend their city. If they want to defend it, they are welcomed. If they want to leave, no one can stop them. From now on, I call the Mahdi army as the protectors of the religion and the country."

Meanwhile in Baqubah, north of Baghdad, an apparent suicide bomber killed six people and wounded seven outside the home of a local government official. The deputy governor for Diyala province was among the wounded, Reuters reported.